the Awesome Summer Journal

The last couple months I’ve been working on some actions that I’ll hopefully be releasing sooner than later. I’ve just wrapped up a set of monochrome recipes– most of which I use on a regular basis.

Click on the sampler to view a larger version.

Here’s a run-down of what each action in this set is like:

Blanco Y Negro: My go-to B&W conversion. Adds contrast and a slightly warm tone.
Attic: Flatter, less contrasty, with a warm tone.
Old News: Very low contrast with an adjustable “fade” layer.
Black Lemon: Deep shadows and soft highlights with a strong yellow tone.
Confessor: Cooler tones, slight red cast to the shadows, with a zooming effect around the edges. Works best on photos that don’t have a super shallow DoF.
Frontier: Old world style, with added noise (hard to tell in the sampler, but I used the same action on this week’s 52 weeks photo).
Copper Kings: Slight added contrast with a coppery/lavender tone.

Even though almost all of these are already color toned, I’ve been compiling a stack of tones to use on b&w or color photos. And then there’s about 10-15 regular actions, ranging from subtle changes to a “fauxlaroid” simulation.

I’ll be posting more samplers and previews of before/after processing in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

This weekend we rallied up a last minute group of friends for a Sunday brunch at Helser’s on Alberta. Ever since our first visit with Chris’s family back in December I’d been dreaming of a return trip.

Me being incapable of keeping track of the days of the week, I forgot that it was Sunday and we had to wait for about 40 minutes before they could squeeze the six of us into a table.

But man, when we were finally seated? It was the best spot in the whole joint. I don’t know what was more yummy that morning– my food, or the light coming in from the windows behind me!

Ok, so the cast of characters was: Me and Chris (who dodged the camera all morning, natch), Sada, Steven, Justin and Andrew.

Despite the giant menu board emblazoned with the words “honeycrisp” “caramel” and “crepes” that stared me down the entire morning, I went with the same thing I got last time: the Pepper Bacon & Tillamook Cheddar Hash. It comes with Yukon gold potatoes, creme fraiche, two poached eggs and a side of fruit.

Sada got the Mushroom hash, with bacon substituted for the Havarti cheese it normally comes with.

Steven’s Smoked Salmon Benedict.

Chris’s Smoked Salmon Hash.

Justin’s Brioche French Toast (someone had to dare to stray from the savory train!).

And Andrew’s plate, which I can’t remember what it was… I think he may have also had the Mushroom Hash.

Definitely my favorite brunch spot in Portland. Well, so far, anyway. :)

Helser’s is located on the corner of NE 16th and Alberta.
They’re open 7am-3pm daily.
(503) 281-1477

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

I’ve been wanting another French Press for non-coffee related purposes and found this little fella at my local Goodwill for 4 measly dollars. Ask and ye shall receive!

Some time ago I had read that you can froth milk using a French Press, but thought it sounded silly and never tried. The first thing I did when I got home with this guy was make hot cocoa and attempt to froth it.

The results were like buttah. Or maybe velvet is more accurate.

Anyway, it’s possible, guys! Recipe for a hot tea latte after the froth porn.

These photos are from a romp I had this morning with a black tea latte I made using honey and my Nilla Nut tea from Whole Foods.

Frothed Tea Latte:

1 tea bag
1/2 cup milk
Sweetener of choice

French Press

1. Fill mug about 1/4 way with hot water and steep tea with sweetener.

2. Meanwhile, heat milk in a small saucepan. Don’t bring it to a boil, but you want it to be hot. Stir frequently to keep it from scalding.

3. Pour milk into French Press and give it a good few pumps, until you notice the volume increasing, making sure to bring the mesh up for air after each pump. I usually give about 8-10 quick pumps.

4. Pour milk into cup, remove tea bag and give it a stir.

In case you don’t happen to own a French Press, a friend tipped me off that you can buy a battery powered milk frother from Ikea for $1.99 that would likely produce similar results.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

When we were preparing for my brother’s week-long holiday visit I built a list of possible places to go, things to do and (of course) restaurants to eat at. There were a handful of places I’d never been to but was curious about, and Petisco on NE 14th & Broadway was one of them. It’s only a few blocks from my work and the cute little outdoor patio had always seemed real inviting to me.

We finally tested the waters one day on our way to the MAX. Our appetites had taken control of us and we popped in to get a couple sandwiches. That first visit was only a few weeks ago (December 26th, actually– are you scared that I know that?) and I’ve already been back two more times since then.

You guys have no idea.

The restaurant itself somehow manages to feel like a classy joint and a cozy nook all at once, and their food falls right in line. Reading the ingredients on the menu can make your mouth water– the cheese list alone is admirable, with Machego, Grana Padano and imported French brie– but comfort food like tuna salad still share space on the menu, in case you aren’t feeling too adventurous.

My first time there, I decided to go with a chicken salad sandwich. It was a great stand-by with a few classy additions– mainly the pine nuts and basil, which I’d never seen in a chicken sal before.

The last two visits I stepped outside of my box and went with the Angry Sicilian. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a sandwich quite like it– Prosciutto, salami, sopressata, hot cappicolla, Grana Padano cheese, tomato, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinegar & extra virgin olive oil, all squished inside a piping hot Ciabatta panini.

I can’t imagine it any other way; the cheese melts ever so slightly, while the balsamic vinegar soaks into the bread and there is just the most perfect hint of the roasted peppers. Too often have I been turned off by a sandwich with a giant slab of slimy roasted pepper for you to gnaw on, but not here– the sandwich wizard behind the counter knows the true value of a well balanced sando.

I have also witnessed the consumption of the Roasted Portabello salad with Manchego cheese, as well as Fresh Mozzarella panini. The former looked scrum, had I not squirmed every time I saw a mushroom, and the latter is something I’ll likely end up ordering in the near future.

Everything I’ve had (or witnessed) here has a handcrafted nature, but I’ve also noticed that there’s a serious dedication to quality and consistency without coming out looking or tasting manufactured. You can tell that the folks behind Petisco are true foodies at heart.

And the prices? Not bad at all, especially considering the high caliber ingredients. If you stop by between 3 and 6pm, Tuesday-Friday you can treat yourself to their sandwich happy hour where all sandwiches are $5.

Someday, I’ll get real adventurous and have something that isn’t a sandwich. But for now? I’m in love with the Angry Sicilian.

Petisco is located on NE Broadway & 14th on the ground floor.
They’re open: Sunday 9am-2pm, Monday 10am-2pm, Tue-Thur 10am-9pm, Friday 10am-10pm and Saturday 9am -10pm.
503-360-1048

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no stranger to getting stuck in routines, and all my life I have always loved bagels. I feel as though– much like with all the cats that have come and gone– I can divvy up the eras of my life based on what kind of bagel I was into at that given time period.

When I was a kid I was all over onion bagels. Kinda boring, but my taste buds were just beginning to flourish, so gimme a break! We were also poor and lived in a tiny, rural town so this was the only time of my life that I tolerated frozen, pre-sliced bagels. But, the excitement of opening the freezer and having that cold, onion-y smell waft out at me is a treasured memory, nonetheless!

In my late teens and around the same time I discovered balsamic vinegar I had a short stint with bagel sandwiches. I didn’t really care what kind of bagel it was on, as long as it was slathered in vinegar, sprouts and avocado.

During the obligatory transition between community college and “someday I’ll go back,” I worked at a cafe that had wheat bagels that were unrealistically yummy. I know, sounds about as exciting as an onion bagel, right? But I’d always put a thin layer of cream cheese, smushed avocado and salt + pepper on top. I don’t know what it was about the wheat ones, but they were the best. Mmm… I can almost taste it now, and it tastes like me when I was 20 years old. Pleah!

Also, before I move on, I’m pretty sure my co-workers at said cafe grew concerned about my bagel intake during those days and may have been plotting an intervention… Haters gonna hate, or what?

Then, when I actually did go back to college, it was all cinnamon raisin bagels with butter and a side of fake bacon. Every day that I could, I most certainly would. For months. I’ve always had a palate for the sweet + salty combo and this was simply as good as it gets.

And don’t mistake that drink for OJ– oh no! The same housemate that got me hooked on fake bacon also had a hand in my addiction to Pineapple Orange Banana juice, another food item I associate with those days.

Now that I work in a grocery store I find myself hypnotized by the jalapeno and cheese bagels that magically appear in the bakery just as I’m about to take my lunch break. Please don’t ask me to recount how many I’ve consumed in the month I’ve been employed there… I don’t even want to know!

So, friends, what’s your favorite bagel? Or, if you’re not a bagel person, has there been a food that followed you around your entire life?

Kim is a true blue carbivore, from her head down to her legs.
This post also could’ve been about potatoes.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

When I decided to start making my own syrups, one of the first flavors that came to mind was chocolate, because, well– duh! It’s chocolate. Mmmmm. Normally I put a little cocoa powder and brown sugar in my coffee, so I thought chocolate syrup would be an obvious alternative.

I have to admit, I didn’t get too excited when I put this in my drink the other morning. If I had the capabilities to brew espresso at home, it would’ve been an outrageously good d.i.y. mocha– but since I just have my French press, the combination doesn’t really do it for me.

However, I did get excited when I put it in some warm milk for the most delicious cup of hot cocoa I’ve ever had. Perhaps a little too excited– the hubs can vouch for all my “OMGs” while I was taste-testing it in the kitchen.

The original recipe was pulled from An Oregon Cottage with the only change being that I added more salt. Who knew chocolate and salt were such a match made in Heaven? Like Jami suggested in her original post, it really gives depth to the sauce and adds more complexity to the taste than just sugar and chocolate.

And since I’ve been on the subject all week of copycatting Starbucks recipes I should note that the more salt you add, the closer it comes in resemblance to the Salted Signature Hot Chocolate; all that’s missing is your caramel/hazelnut flavoring.

Salted Chocolate Syrup:

3/4 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup Unrefined sugar
1 cup Boiling water
1/2 tsp Coarse salt
1 tsp Vanilla

1. In a saucepan, add sugar and cocoa powder and whisk until combined. Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over mixture and whisk until a smooth paste is formed.

2. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of water, stir, and bring the syrup to a small boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Reduce heat to a simmer, add salt (either the full 1/2 tsp, or to taste).

4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool completely (about an hour), stirring now and then, before transferring to a glass container.

5. Refrigerate when not in use.

So, I won’t be putting this in my morning coffee, but I will be drizzling it over everything in sight. This chocolate syrup is unbelievably addictive; consider yourself warned!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, the Chinese Gardens in downtown PDX had free admission from Jan 2nd-11th. I was able to sneak in a quick visit yesterday with Chris and enjoy the 40,000 square foot garden, complete with a lake and waterfall.

These rocks and most of the other materials used to build the garden were brought from China.

All the little trees in the hallways and window sills were my favorite part.

According to my records, I was apparently stalking this girl the entire time we were there and didn’t even know it! Oops.

Stalked quite a few children, too. The temptation to shoot from the hip is irresistible!

Admission to the gardens is normally $8.50 for adults. A little steep, but if you’re visiting and want to see it all, it should definitely go on your list as a fine place to take a breather from busy downtown Portland.

Today was a reminder that Kim does in fact exist outside of the kitchen.
Kim will return to her regularly scheduled FOOD OVERLOAD tomorrow with a chocolatey surprise. :)

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

Yesterday morning I gleefully poured myself a cup of cold brewed coffee, but decided that I wasn’t ready for a break in the experiments just yet.

Having just started working at Starbucks, I was really really curious about the few Cinnamon Dolce copycat recipes I’d found on the internet. I used a fancy recipe calculator to cut the portions down to just enough for Chris and I to do a taste test.

The results were delicious– there is no doubt about that. But once it cooled, the syrup was more of a glop, and I had a hard time dissolving it into my cold milk (which, btw, was also delicious, despite the missing coffee– kind of reminiscent of Horchata).

Next time, I’m going to tweak the recipe and add more water. Half a cup of water didn’t sound like nearly enough, but I wanted to follow the letter of the law before I made any changes.

Still, if you’re curious, here’s the recipe:

Cinnamon Dolce Syrup:
Makes ~3 Tbsp

2 Tbsp Packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp Water
1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp Butter
Tiny splash Vanilla

If you’re happy with the consistency, here’s the recipe for a full batch:

Cinnamon Dolce Syrup:
Makes 1 1/2 cups

1 cup Packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Water
1 Tbsp Ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla

In a small saucepan, dissolve brown sugar in water and add cinnamon. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add vanilla and butter and stir until melted.

Like I said, while the consistency wasn’t what I had in mind, it was by no means a failed attempt. If you have a milk steamer, then by all means, this recipe should do the trick!

I suspect this would also be great on pancakes, or used as a filling for baked goods.

…Cinnamon dolce coffee cake, anyone?

Thanks to Songstress7 for providing the original recipe.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

I just finished off the last bite of this bowl of oatmeal, and as I was eating it I tried to remember the last time I had such a good bowl of hot oats.

Before, I just did oatmeal the normal way: boil 1:2 oats to water, mix in additions and eat. Yawn.

This morning I added some milk, and also put my fruit and sugar in as I was cooking it. Normally, I always waited until I had served myself up before mixing anything else in. Whoever taught me to do it like this is out of their frakkin’ mind!

Sweet and Creamy Oatmeal:
Makes 1 serving

1 cup Water
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Rolled oats
1 Tbsp Brown sugar

1 Date, pitted and chopped
Raisins
Dried cranberries

Shredded coconut

1. In a small pot, add water, milk and oats and heat over medium-high. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then lower to a simmer.

2. Once oatmeal has thickened, add brown sugar and fruit and cook for another minute or two. Reserve the coconut for a garnish.

Seriously, I can’t believe I never put the dried cranberries in the oatmeal as it cooked– the difference is astonishing. They puff up from the moisture and their flavors are so much easier to release when eating.

The day has barely begun, and I’m already looking forward to tomorrow morning!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

Recently, my love affair with coffee has expanded into territories greater than it tastes good and keeps me awake.

It all started with the Chemex; I have always been interested in the slow food movement, and the Chemex seemed like a great way to start. Plus, it’s all food + science + art… How can you go wrong?

Oh, that’s right– it needs filters! That little detail has kept us at bay (for now), because above all, we like to keep it simple here in Fort Felix.

Chris found a French press at Goodwill for a few bucks and we’ve been testing the waters with that. It’s not the fanciest by any means (and I even cracked the lid my first time using it. Oops!), but it gets the jyurb dun, makes better tasting coffee than I’ve ever made at home, and is easy to store.

Now, I love a hot cup as much as the next person, but I’m also hopelessly addicted to cold coffee drinks. Yes, even in the winter time. I blame my being a Pitta — honestly, I could sweat in the middle of a snowstorm.

Anyway, I was one of those fools who thought they were such a smarty pants because I’d brew a cup of coffee, stick it in the fridge for a few hours and enjoy it with my milk and sugar later in the day.

But get this– did you know you can actually put coffee grounds in your French press, add cold tap water, stick it in the FRIDGE… OVERNIGHT… And it will come out the next morning smoother and tastier than ever?

And, according to smitten kitchen, if you brew it in big batches, it will still taste as fresh as the day you made it, even if it’s actually been several days since you made it.

Maybe it’s just because I’m late to the whole science of coffee bandwagon, but my mind was officially blown.

This morning I whipped up a small saucepan of simple syrup and before you could say “Goodbye Starbucks!” I was sipping on a cold cup of vanilla iced coffee.

Since this was such a spur of the moment operation, I didn’t do much planning, hence the remaining syrup in a rinsed out apple cider bottle. I don’t even have a lid or cork for it, so I’ll probably end up putting saranwrap and a rubber band over the spout. Yeah, I’m classy like that.

So, without further ado, here is the recipe that changed my life:

Warning: You may find the simplicity is too much to bear. I hold no responsibility for hospital bills due to eyeballs popping out of their heads, or sleepless nights that may result from wondering how much money we’ve all unnecessarily wasted on iced coffee and extra shots of flavoring.

Cold Brewed Coffee:
Makes ~2 cups

1/3 cup Coarse ground coffee, plus 2 Tbsp and 2 tsp
2 1/4 cups Filtered tap water

Dash of ground cinnamon (optional)
Dash of unrefined sugar (optional)

1. Place coffee grounds and filtered water in your French press. Stir the grounds into the water, then fasten the lid and put it in the fridge overnight, or ~12-18 hrs.

2. In the morning, slowly push down the pump, pour yourself a cup and mix in your choice additions. I like mine with half-milk, and a dash of cinnamon and sugar on top. Since the coffee is cold, the cinnamon won’t dissolve, leaving a tasty little bite to the surface of each sip.

Simple Vanilla Syrup:
Makes 2 cups

1 cup Unrefined sugar
1 cup Filtered tap water
2-3 tsps Vanilla

1. In a small saucepan, add all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Mix, if you want– you don’t have to.

2. When the sugar has completely dissolved, remove from heat. Let cool and store in an airtight jar. It will keep in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.

Ta-da!

Since Chris is the opposite of me and needs hot drinks for his cold body, I trimmed the recipe to make just over one cup for myself. The regular ratio is simply 1/3 cup coffee to 1 1/2 cups water.

I’ve gone on a simple syrup recipe binge, too, and have hoarded a ton of variations– coconut, cinnamon dolce, and chocolate are the ones I’m most excited to try. Of course I’ll report back with my findings.

Till then, enjoy your cold bevvies and have a great weekend!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

It’s not unheard of around here to celebrate Caturday a little bit ahead of schedule, and considering this week I went back to the daily grind (get it? I work at a coffee shop. har har) after bidding farewell to another season of holidays…

Plus I got a full blown cold and bounced back in the span of 4 days, I’m definitely in need of staring at cute kitties in Photoshop today.

So here’s Pistachio, one of my favorite neighborhood gatos. He has the daintiest meow, and always follows me to my door– even though he lives in the apartment complex next to ours. He’s one of those cats you can just “ts-ts-ts” at from halfway down the block and he’ll come sauntering over. So cute.

Pistachio has been featured on the Awesome Summer Journal before.
Read about his previous adventures with Kim in the post: Ghost Kitty Lives!, back when she thought he was a girl.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

These shoes have been sitting at the foot of a telephone pole on my street for about a week now. They were there when it snowed, and I keep kicking myself for never getting a photo of them with all the white fluff.

I love finding things like this just lying around in public places that are passed daily by innumerable people. To me, it’s like a game of How Long Can It Go Without Getting Moved / Disappearing?

Sort of like that one hair that was stuck to the side of a door at Jillian’s work. I bet that hair is still there.

Well, we’ll never know, but I’m definitely tallying the days with these shoes.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

A couple weeks ago I finally checked out the OMSI, which was so massive that we dinked around long enough for our bus transfers to expire.

Being the cheapskate that I am, I made the suggestion that we walk across the Hawthorne Bridge and jump on a MAX line back to Lloyd Center instead of paying the two whole doll-hairs to get home. Luckily I was able to mask my cheapness through the guise of being a really good tour guide.

But the sunlight was just barely poking out into the sky by the time we got on the actual bridge and made for some gorgeous photo opps. At the end of all that walking, it was totally worth it.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

About an hour before Alan left to go back to California we set up the tripod in the park to take some family photos. First, though, we had to get Alan some coffee, which gave me the perfect opportunity to make them walk the plank!

This board is always in the alleyway to bridge the gap between the huge puddle of water that accumulates when it rains. Walking across it makes me feel like a little kid, and the fact that it’s on Klickitat Street only reinforces that feeling.

These were just some test shots. Sometimes I love the pictures that result from setting up more than the actual final product.

It took a minute for us to get settled in front of the camera…

…But it didn’t take long for the goofing off to begin.

And with that, I wish you all a Happy New Year! I hope everyone had fun crossing over to a brand new decade. We spent a couple hours at Ground Kontrol with Ben, then came home for more video games and junk food.

If NYE was a sign of what 2010 has to offer, then I got a lot to look forward to this year!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

The night it snowed in Portland we took advantage of the huge park across the street from our place.

We were too cold and tired to do more than wander around and take pictures, but that didn’t stop everyone else in the neighborhood from building snowmen and sliding around the park hills on cardboard.

Alan made some changes to a couple snowmen we found with beer bottles on their heads.

Chris, on the other hand, had different plans for our wintry friends.

I had to work the next day and feared the snow would melt away (which it did), so I took a few minutes that morning to wander around with my camera.

It all started to disappear almost as fast as it got here, and it never takes long before pristine, new snow starts to look disgusting.

Fun while it lasted!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

I just got a crash course in Brutal Weather 101!

It’s my brother’s 28th birthday and I have the day off, so early this afternoon I took him downtown for some window shopping. We only managed to hit up two stores on our list (Finnegan’s and Billy Galaxy) before it started to snow.

At first, we were really excited– it was just a soft flow of snowflakes that melted as soon as they hit the ground. But then we realized how unprepared our feet were for such weather, so we ducked into a breakfast-all-day place for some lunch.

After we were done eating, it still seemed within the boundaries of reality to continue on our to-do list, so we got on a streetcar heading to the NW. Once we saw how much snow was accumulating on that part of town, we jumped off, turned around and headed back to Burnside to defrost inside of Powell’s.

By this time both our feet were sopping wet.

Eventually we made it to Skidmore Fountain and got on the MAX to get across the river. But traffic was so bad and cars were already starting to slide around on the snow and crash into each other, so we decided it would be best if we just walked the rest of the way home.

Alan and myself, about halfway through our journey home.

Alan popped into Starbucks on MLK for a peppermint mocha to warm him up during the homestretch.

The homestretch which, of course, was gorgeous. I’ve always loved living in Irvington because it’s so darn cute, and it only gets cuter when winter comes calling!

Altogether we walked about 2 miles… In the snow… With soaking wet feet… Might as well have been barefoot! (And before anyone else asks, yes it was uphill both ways! Just kidding. :)

Happy Birthday Alan! Sorry we didn’t get to take you to see Zombieland, but hopefully your first snowstorm will make up for it.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to put on my galoshes and go explore the park!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

We got word yesterday that Chris’s childhood cat, Eddie, wasn’t going to make it through another day. I’ve been trying to suppress my emotions, what with my brother being in town and being trained in yet another new job, but this one has hit me pretty hard… I can only imagine how Chris, who’s loved Eddie for over a decade, must feel.

Eddie has struggled with health issues for as long as I’ve known him… He was blind in one eye, had torn ears, a messed up jaw, and– at one point– a small velvety patch of fur on his back that was regrowing after a scuffle.

But through it all he’s always remained one of the sweetest cats I’ve ever known. I’ll never forget the first time I met Eddie, he didn’t hesitate to nuzzle his head on my lap, with his big thick white whiskers (which I called magic wands). Back then he was affectionately referred to as “Chaps,” because he was losing his fur on his hind legs from suspected anxiety.

Unlike some black cats I know, Ed never bit me, or swatted at me, or showed even the smallest sign that he had an ounce of negative energy in his little body. His business was simply relaxing in the yard and catching some pets here ‘n’ there.

Eddie is estimated to have lived 13 years, if not longer. He was a trooper and will be dearly missed. xoxo

ETA: I’ve been told that Ed was closer to 20 years old. Holy smokes.

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

Friday afternoon my older brother rode a train into Portland from California and we’ve been trying to treat him to all the best attractions ever since. His geekiness surpasses my own, so one of our first stops this weekend was Ground Kontrol, a barcade on NW 5th and Couch.

I had a bit of luck, too– a few of the games I went to play had quarters in the machines, or games that had been abandoned, etc.

This New Year’s Eve they’re having a free play night starting at 5pm, with a cover charge of $15. I’m 90% sure we’re going, if only so I can have the chance of getting past the first level of Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins. That game has always eluded me, it’s so damn hard!

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.

What a disappearing act I’ve been lately! Many apologies but, as all bloggers know, life has its way of just happening sometimes. This week has been really physically hard on me.

I’ve been working 5am-1:30pm all week… Going to bed at 7 and waking up at 3am to get ready for work is no fun! I’m on my feet all day, racing around the market doing a zillion things at once, so you can hopefully understand why I haven’t felt like blogging when I get home!

The good news is that work hasn’t entirely consumed my life (yet!). I’ve managed to squeeze out some bits of joy out of each day and– since I haven’t been taking photos– I figured I’d blog about them while my energy level’s still relatively high for the evening.

First things first, I’ve become utterly addicted to Legend of the Seeker. The show was created by Sam Raimi and is sort of in the same vein as his Xena and Hercules (the former of which I idolized as a young one to the point of learning how to do her battle call), but with a much more serious twist and a bigger budget.

Think Hercules meets Lord of the Rings, plus more violence and its own world of terminology. Seekers, Keepers, Confessors and Mord’Sith, oh my! (Can we all agree that Cara is a total babe? I’d let her use the Agiel on me any day!)

It’s all loosely based on a series of novels by Terry Goodkind, which you bet your buns I’m gonna read when I’m done with my current book.

Watch this show!

Which brings me to Ender’s Shadow!

It’s taken me way too long to pick up this book, but I’m so glad I finally did. Practically every free minute I’ve had this week was spent either watching LotS or reading up on Bean’s side of the story. I’m about halfway through, and it’s the best “meanwhile” book ever. And… While I love Ender’s Game, I think I like this one even more.

The above images were taken from the official Marvel website– they’re two covers out of the five-issue comic series released last year.

Read this book!

To get me out of my rut, but still keep the geek theme going, Chris took me out for a date last night. We saw Avatar in 3D and it. was. AWESOME!

Normally I can’t handle 3D stuff because it’s too invasive, but since we weren’t at Disneyland and they weren’t spraying scents in our faces and having shit brush against our legs, I managed to get through the flick relatively anxiety-free.

When I first saw the trailer, though, I couldn’t get over how cheesy the CGI looked, but in the theater the Na’Vi looked amazamazing. It was only the “dreamwalkers” that bothered me (Sigourney Weaver’s avatar was so stupid, like something out of a deviantart gallery).

In the end the movie made me really sad because it was only 3/4 non-fiction. It was basically one big sci-fi version of Dances with Wolves, which is one of my favorite movies, back before Mary McDonnell butchered her face. But that’s another sci-fi post for another day.

See this movie!

As long time readers know, I’m a huge geek. Although, if you’ve only been reading along for a short while you’ve probably still managed to catch some whiffs of geekery off me… Heck, this post is proof enough!

So, imagine my surprise when someone contacted me through Flickr about using my tattoos for an article and it actually turned out to be legit!

There are 11 inked geeks altogether who were e-terviewed for the article. You can read the blurbs on Mog and Cactuar here and here!

Speaking of geek ink, I wonder if my brother would get matching “So Say We All” tattoos with me? And if Chris would totally hate the idea?

Al?

Chris?

Whaddaya say? I’ve always wanted a wrist tat! ;)

Originally published at the awesome summer journal. Please leave any comments there.